A Queens highway was left underwater, trapping a semi-truck and three cars, on Thursday afternoon as torrential rain stormed into the area — prompting Gov. Hochul to declare a state of emergency for the Big Apple.
Members of the FDNY and the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit raced to the Clearview Expressway, near Northern Boulevard, at about 2:45 p.m. after reports of occupants trapped inside submerged vehicles, authorities said.
Those inside the stalled cars made it out safely, the FDNY said — though it wasn’t immediately clear if they were rescued or escaped under their own power.
The Clearview was subsequently closed in both directions at Northern Boulevard, according to the NYPD.
Video obtained by The Post showed a pick-up truck hauling a small vehicle attempting to fjord the murky waters that appeared to be over three feet deep in certain spots.
The water rose as high as the middle of the seat of one sedan which sat on the highway with all four doors open, according to the video.
Two vehicles were seen almost completely submerged, one SUV was stranded under the overpass with its trunk open, and an 18-wheeler with water up to its cab doors were all afflicted by the flooding rain, according to the video.
A group of firefighters, three equipped with floatation devices, can be seen on the side of the expressway, video showed.
Photos circulating on social media, captured from a Clearview Expressway traffic cam, show at least two cars nearly fully submerged in waters that rise to the door of an 18-wheel truck that appears to be stalled out.
Video obtained by The Post showed a pick-up truck hauling a small vehicle attempting to fjord the murky waters that appeared to be over three feet deep in certain spots.
The water rose as high as the middle of the seat of one sedan which sat on the highway with all four doors open, according to the video.
Two vehicles were seen almost completely submerged, one SUV was stranded under the overpass with its trunk open, and an 18-wheeler with water up to its cab doors were all afflicted by the flooding rain, according to the video.
A group of firefighters, three equipped with floatation devices, can be seen on the side of the expressway, video showed.
Photos circulating on social media, captured from a Clearview Expressway traffic cam, show at least two cars nearly fully submerged in waters that rise to the door of an 18-wheel truck that appears to be stalled out.
Heavy thunderstorms rolled into the New York City-area on Thursday afternoon and forecasts predicted widespread flooding and as much as 5 inches of rain in parts of the region.
Hochul declared a state of emergency as the skies opened up.
